The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-13
SIAMESE AMAzONS.
Kings Military Guard Composed of
Entirely OF Women.
London Cor. of the Chicago Tribune.

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London Cor. of the Chicago Tribune
Among the other visitors to the exhibit
ton has been the Prince of Siam, brother to
the king. He is little man, but has an
olive complexion and black eyes, speaks
English perfectly and has charming man
ners. AS an example of one of the good re-
| suits of the American exhibition, during his
visit he made most careful inspection of
the goods in the main building and spent
thousands of dollars on all the useful things
he saw which were up to the present time
unknown to Siam. He gave an order for
| 100 typewriters to one manufactures,
large order for safes to an
other, ordered four dozen carpet sweepers,
a steam engine, and number of other in
| genious things which attracted his atten-
ton, so that these exhibitors have the salts
| faction of knowing that they have opened
a market for themselves in Siam at no
greater expense than going to the American
exhibition. The fashion having been set by
| the Prince, large orders for all these goods
| he assured them would follow; it would
therefore appear that the people in his coun-
| try, which very few of us stop to realize is
| twice as large in its area as France, and has
population of about $1,000, 900 people, are
all making rapid strides toward modern
| civilization.
He gave us some curious information,
however, about the Kings amazons. the
! Royal Guard being composed entirely of
| women. This battalion consists of 400 wo-
men, chosen from among the handSomest
| and most robust girls in the country. They
receive excellent pay, and their discipline is
perfect. They are admitted to serve at the
age of ID, and are placed in the army of re-
serve at the age of %. From that period
they no longer serve about the Kings per-
| son, but are employed to guard the royal
| palaces and the crown lands.
On entering the army the amaZons make
a vow of chastity, for which there is no ex-
| emption unless any of them should attract
the Kings attention and be admitted among
his legitimate wives The Kings choice sci
dom falls on the most beautiful, but on the
most skilled in military exercise. The cos
| tune these women wear is very rich. Their
| full dress is composed of white wooden
| robe, embroidered with gold The cloth is
| extremely fine and deScends as far as
| the knee; it is covered with a light
coat off imail and a gilt cuirass. The
arms are free, and the head is covered with
| gilt casque. When wearing this dress on
| state occasions their only weapon is lance,
which they handle with wonderful dexter
| ity. With their undress they are armed
with musket. The battalion is composed
of four companies, and each company of 100
women commanded by a Captain of their
own sex. Should the Captain die the com
pany is drilled during three days by the
King, who appoints the most competent to
| succeed to the command.
the King of Siam never undertakes any
| expedition without being accompanied by
his female guard, nor does he ever hunt, or
even ride, without an escort of the same
| guard, who are devotedly attached to his
person. Every individual of the battalion
| has five negresSes attached to her service
and, having thus no domestic occupation
| she can devote herself exclusively to the
duties of her profession. There is parade
ground near the city, where one company
are stationed for two days every week tC
exercise themselves in the use OF
the lance, the pistol, and the rife
| The King attends once a month al
| those exercises accompanied by his
| brother, who shares in some degree the
sovereign power, and distributes prizes to
| those most deserving. When the death OF
| one of the parties ensues, the deceased
receives magnificent funeral, and the high
| priest pronounces a panegyric declaring
that the decease6by her valor has meriteC
eternal rest in the abode of the blessed. The
survivor receives the congratulations OF
/ hercompanions, but as a measure of dis
| cipline, she is sentenced to pass two months
away from her company in fasting and
| prayer. The military organization of this
battalion is so perfect that the entire army
| endeavorS to initiate it,